Colombian president calls for support of Church’s mediation in release of kidnapped

President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia called for support on Sunday for a mediation proposal put forth by the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia, together with Spain, Switzerland and France, in order to achieve a humanitarian accord for the release of the hostages being held by the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC).

In his message, Uribe insistently called on all Colombians “to support the Catholic Church in its efforts with the delegates of Spain, France and Switzerland.”

“If everybody supports this effort and the FARC has a minimum of common sense, the FARC would also have to be reasonable,” Uribe said. He called on the family members of the kidnapped to encourage support throughout the world for the Church’s efforts and those of the European delegates, so that “the new generations of Colombians can live in happiness.”

Regarding the area where talks would take place, as suggested by the Colombian bishops, Uribe reiterated that “the government of Colombia accepts the conditions laid out in the proposal: a rural, unpopulated area where there are no police or military forces.”